Emergency switch and frog.



PATBNTBD APR. 18, 1905.

ATTORNEY MWWM C. H. WILLIAMS.

EMERGENCY SWITCH 4AND FROG.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 20, 19054 UNITED STATES Eatenteoi April 1'8, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

EMERGENCY SWITCH AND FROG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,711, dated April 18, 1905.

Application i'lled January 20, 1905. Serial No. 241,959.

To {1f/ZZ whom, if; mfr/ty concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springiield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented newV and useful Improvements in Emergency Switches and Frogs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in emergency switches and frogs, the object of which is to provide a cheap, simple, and durable device for quickly and easily forming a a switch connection with the main-line track of a railroad without cutting or changing either the rails or the ties of the main track. These objects I attain by means of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a view in elevation of the device asapplied to the railway-track and by dotted lines showsconnection with a switchstand. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the lead-point connection. Fig. 3 is a top view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing one of the connections forming part of the frog at the crossing of the main rail. Fig. 5 is a top view of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the wedge. Fig. 7 is a view of the clamp for securing the frog and lead-point to the main line in connection with the wedge shown in Fig. 6.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A and B are the ordinary rails on the mainline track of the railroad.

C and D are the switch-rails of the temporary track connecting with the main line.

E represents the lead-point connection with the main line, which consists of two parts E2 and E2, suitably hinged for permitting the part'E2 to swing' out and in for making connection and disconnection with the main line. For this purpose said part E2 has an enlarged and elevated part. which rests over and on the main-track rail for lifting the wheels of an engine or a car, so that the iiange will pass freely over the main line. For connecting or securing this part to the main rail any ordinary means may be used. I prefer using the clamp F, which passes around the lower part of the inside of the main T-rail and under the T-rail passes up to the outside to receive a wedge G on the outside of the connecting part. By means of this wedge or clamp the connection is made rigid, as shown in Fig. 1. The connection 'and disconnection may be made by the ordinary switch stand and lever when the switch is intended for use by worktrains or when more than temporary use is desired; but for use in case of wrecks and emergencies the clamp and wedge are preferred. The point E2 is made with its upper part E4, as stated, to fit over and upon the track-rail of the mainline, with a projection E'd below that iits in the outer groove of the T-rail of the main track. By this means cars may easily pass over the main rail onto the side track or from the side track onto the main line. The connection E3 is provided with extensions E6 or with holes for fish-plates for connecting with the side-track rail. I'prefer the former.

The connection of the inner rail C of the switch-track is made across the inner rail B of the main track by means of two points H and I, which are made similar to the point E, above described as making the lead-point, having one of these points on each side of the main inner-track rail and the points coming together in the center of the main rail. For this purpose the points HI and I have the extended points H2 and I2, which go over the main track, made with square ends to iit each other on top of the main rail, as shown. Clamps and wedges, the same as the ones described above for holding the'lead-point, may also be used for securing these points. They also have hinge-joints for letting them swing out and in to free the main track when desired, and these points may also be connected with the attachments of a switch-stand, as shown in Fig. l, when desired for more or less permanent use; but for emergency purposes the clamp and wedge is preferred. The extension of the inner rail C of the side track may be provided with an ordinary split switchpoint.

As thus constructed the connection and disconnection of the switch with the main track may bequickly and easily made without cut- IOO ting the rails of the main track or disturbing its ties, as is the case with the frog and switch connections now in use. By this means the train entering the switch passes over the main inner-track rail Bin going to and from the main track. This switch as thus constructed is interchangeable and may be used in connection With a straight track or a curved one in going either direction and on either side.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. A connection for a switch-track With the main line having a hinged point, one part of said point passes upon and over the main rail and another part of said point entering the groove of the main rail combined with a clamp and a Wedge for securing the same, substantially as shown and described.

2. A point for connectinga temporary track With the main line consisting of a part to pass upon the top of the rail of the main track and a part to enter the groove of the main-track rail combined with a clamp and Wedge to hold the same in position substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereoflaix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES H. WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

S. A. HAsELTINE, W. H. KREIDER. 

